Just like the films, Star Wars video games are almost always highly anticipated, and fans already have some games lined up to look forward to in 2022 and beyond. George Lucas’ creation has blossomed over decades into one of the largest media franchises in existence, with classic games like Knights of the Old Republic and Battlefront standing as important contributions. Following the turn into the new year, there are eight Star Wars games confirmed to be in development, with another rumored.
Following Disney’s acquisition of the Star Wars IP, Electronic Arts was the sole publisher allowed to release officially licensed games. That is no longer the case, and with EA not announcing any new Star Wars games in 2021, there are plenty on the horizon from other companies. That said, EA isn’t out of the Star Wars discussion entirely, with a sequel to Jedi: Fallen Order expected, and a couple other recently announced projects in early development.
In terms of games that will actually release in 2022, the field is rather scarce. Currently, there are only two Star Wars games with 2022 release windows, with the others essentially only having a single trailer, or nothing more than an announcement. There could be some surprises in the coming months, but the franchise for now appears to have a relatively shallow output of games as other developers have only just gotten started on several titles now that Star Wars is free of EA’s control.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Should Release In 2022
The next game expected to release that is set in a galaxy far, far away is LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Since the sequel trilogy began, the only LEGO Star Wars game was The Force Awakens, making The Skywalker Saga the first time The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker will be playable in a brick-based format. All nine films will be included in The Skywalker Saga with hundreds of LEGO characters to play as. A new hub world will let players choose which order to tackle the movies in, and there are expected to be a number of gameplay improvements and entirely new mechanics. The release date for LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was just recently announced by developer TT Games and publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to be April 5, 2022.
Star Wars: Hunters Mobile Release Was Pushed To 2022
Star Wars: Hunters was announced in early 2021, and was originally expected sometime in the same year, but has also been pushed into 2022. There has so far not been any official word from developer Zynga on any sort of release window. Hunters is an arena fighter coming to Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, and it will pit players against each other in teams comprised of a variety of characters. Wookies, Jawas, droids, Stormtroopers, and even a new Dark Side user named Rieve are slated to be included as playable characters. The gameplay appears to take inspiration from hero shooters, though lightsaber wielders will bring a decent amount of melee combat to the game, which is set in-universe as some sort of spectated gladiatorial competition.
Star Wars Eclipse Could Be As Late As 2026
Star Wars Eclipse was announced with a captivating reveal trailer at The Game Awards 2021, and will be the first game set in the High Republic era, which is a period of prosperity for the Galactic Republic decades prior to the events of The Phantom Menace. Very little is known about the game itself, since it isn’t expected to release for a few more years. It is being developed by Quantic Dream, a studio known for its interactive story-driven games and a number of controversies relating to a toxic work environment.
Eclipse came under scrutiny following its announcement because of Quantic Dream’s involvement, which resulted in #BlackoutStarWarsEclipse trending on Twitter. Many fans feel the lucrative Star Wars IP shouldn’t be licensed to creators prone to repeated, troubling behavior, but the situation hasn’t necessarily evolved since the outcry. Rumors have suggested that some of these issues could put the game a long way off, potentially as far as 2026.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Remake Doesn’t Have A Release Date
Longtime Star Wars video game fans were delighted when a remake of Knights of the Old Republic was announced at Sony’s PlayStation Showcase in September 2021. The original, developed by BioWare, came out for the Xbox and PC in 2003 and has since become one of the most beloved RPGs ever to be released. An equally lauded sequel was developed by Obsidian in 2005, but a third KOTOR never came. Only a teaser for the remake featuring Darth Revan igniting a red lightsaber has been released, with all other details on Aspyr’s KOTOR remake still a mystery. It is likely very early in production, and will not release for a few years yet. Those interested may want to check out the fantastic RPG in the recent KOTOR Nintendo Switch port, which was also developed by Aspyr.
More Star Wars: KOTOR Games Are Rumored To Be Coming
In addition to the remake of the classic RPG, there are rumors circulating of another game based on Knights of the Old Republic. The leak comes from Star Wars insider Bespin Bulletin, and was discussed on BOB the Podcast. This alleged KOTOR project is almost entirely devoid of information, and doesn’t even have a development studio attached, but Bespin Bulletin did mention that it is not being developed by a studio under EA. It seems unlikely that a remake of KOTOR II: The Sith Lords would get a green light before Aspyr’s remake is out the door, so it’s possible this mystery project is an original story taking place in the Old Republic.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order 2
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was a standout new gaming experience with the IP under the purview of EA. Players play as Jedi exile Cal Kestis, who has been in hiding for five years after Order 66 resulted in the Great Jedi Purge. The combat takes some inspiration from the Soulslike genre, but the game also features numerous platforming sections and puzzles.
Jedi: Fallen Order 2 was confirmed by Respawn Entertainment just recently, though details still remain scarce. It is expected to continue Cal’s story, but neither Respawn nor EA have offered any hints as to how. Games industry insider Jason Schreier noted on Twitter following the announcement that the Fallen Order sequel has been in development for quite some time, and will likely launch in either 2022 or 2023.
Respawn’s Untitled Star Wars FPS Is Likely Years Away
Alongside the official confirmation that a Jedi: Fallen Order sequel was on the way, it was also revealed that Respawn has two other Star Wars projects in the works, one of which is a first-person shooter. Schreier notes that, unlike the Fallen Order sequel, this untitled Star Wars FPS is likely years away from release, and that its announcement is in part an attempt to attract talented developers to Respawn. Electronic Arts‘ press release revealed that the director for this title will be Peter Hirschmann, who has a plethora of Star Wars game experience, including involvement in the original Battlefront series and The Force Unleashed. This is unlikely to be a continuation of the modern Battlefront series, which is developed by DICE, especially since Battlefront 3 was reportedly canceled over licensing costs.
Respawn & Bit Reactor Are Creating A Star Wars Strategy Game
Respawn’s other untitled Star Wars project will be a strategy game, and is a collaborative effort with a newly formed development studio called Bit Reactor. Just like the FPS, this game is probably years away from release, with its early announcement part of a hiring strategy. EA claims Bit Reactor will take the lead in development, since the studio is helmed by Greg Foertsch, a former employee of Firaxis Games. Foertsch has experience in working on Firaxis’ XCOM series, so it’s plausible that this upcoming Star Wars title will be a turn-based strategy game, rather than an RTS.
The Star Wars Project From Ubisoft
The final known Star Wars game on the horizon is one from Ubisoft. Currently, the project doesn’t even have a known title, but is in development at Ubisoft subsidiary Massive Entertainment, which is responsible for both Tom Clancy’s The Division games, as well as the upcoming Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Details on the game are extremely scarce, but it will supposedly feature an open world, and be story-driven. Additionally, the game will run on Massive’s proprietary Snowdrop Engine, which was first used for The Division in 2016. Ubisoft’s Star Wars game is likely years away as well, since work will have to be completed on Frontiers of Pandora first.
Source: Bespin Bulletin/BOB the Podcast, Electronic Arts, Jason Schreier/Twitter
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